‘Get your knee off our necks!’: Floyd mourned in Minneapolis

Celebrities, musicians and political leaders gathered in front of George Floyd’s golden casket yesterday for a fiery memorial service for the man whose death at the hands of police sparked global protests, with a civil rights leader declaring it is time for black people to demand, ‘‘Get your knee off our necks!’’

The service – the first in a series of memorials set for three cities over six days – unfolded in Minneapolis at a sanctuary at North Central University as a judge a few blocks away set bail at $750,000 (NZ$1.1 million) each for the three fired police officers charged with aiding and abetting murder in Floyd’s death.

‘‘George Floyd’s story has been the story of black folks. Because ever since 401 years ago, the reason we could never be who we wanted and dreamed to be is you kept your knee on our neck,’’ the

Rev. Al Sharpton said in a fierce eulogy. ‘‘It’s time for us to stand up in George’s name and say, ‘Get your knee off our necks!’’’

Floyd, a 46-year-old out-of-work bouncer, died May 25 after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, put his knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes as he lay handcuffed on the pavement, gasping that he couldn’t breathe. Chauvin has been charged with murder.

Those gathered at the Minneapolis tribute stood in silence for 8 minutes, 46 seconds, the amount of time Floyd was alleged to be on the ground under the control of police.

Sharpton vowed that this will become a movement to ‘‘change the whole system of justice.’’

‘‘Time is out for not holding you accountable! Time is out for you making excuses! Time is out for you trying to stall! Time is out for empty words and empty promises! Time is out for you filibustering and trying to stall the arm of justice!’’ he said. The service drew the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Senator Amy Klobuchar and members of Congress, including Reps. Ilhan Omar, Sheila Jackson Lee and Ayanna Pressley. Among the celebrities in attendance were T.I., Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish and Marsai Martin.

‘‘All these people came to see my brother,’’ Philonise Floyd told the crowd at the memorial in awe as he recounted their childhoods. He and other family members spoke lovingly of Floyd, who was well over 6 feet tall, which earned him the nickname ‘‘Big George.’’

The casket was covered in red roses, and an image was projected above the pulpit of a mural of Floyd painted at the street corner where he was arrested by police on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a store. The message on the mural: ‘‘I can breathe now.’’

The sanctuary normally seats 1000, but because of the coronavirus outbreak, the capacity was reduced to about 500, and many mourners wore masks, some with ‘‘I can’t breathe’’ on them.

Outside, hundreds chanted Floyd’s name as a hearse prepared to carry him away. His body goes next to Raeford, North Carolina, near where he was born, for a public viewing and private family service this weekend. A public viewing will be held Monday, local time, in Houston, where he was raised and lived most of his life.

Sharpton announced that he was organising a March on Washington in late August to mark the 57th anniversary of the historic demonstration for civil rights. – AP

AP Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton delivers the eulogy at the memorial service for George Floyd at North Central University yesterday in Minneapolis. Floyd died on May 25 as a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into his neck.